Pennsylvania State Attorney Mike Reese died Saturday afternoon after an apparent brain aneurysm, according to a statement from House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff.
Benninghoff said Reese, 42, was at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with his family by his side when he died.
“More than a friend to us all, and one of our caucus leaders, Mike was a devoted husband and father. His wife, three young children and extended family are in our minds and prayers during this difficult time,” the statement read.
Reese, a Republican, was elected to the 59th District in 2009, replacing retired State Representative Jess Stairs. His district included parts of the counties of Westmoreland and Somerset. In 2019, he won a fifth term in office.
Reese was the main sponsor of a bill to enable school officials to determine whether they want to keep sports and extracurricular activities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Tom Wolf vetoed the measure.
“Applying a meeting limit of 250 people to sports stadiums that can accommodate several thousand people simply does not make sense,” Reese said in September. “It’s even harder to understand the 25 – person limit for indoor gatherings in gyms that are larger than some large box stores.”
In August, Reese, along with state Rep. Ryan Warner, introduced a bill that would allow groups such as fire departments to hold online lotteries to raise money during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reese is a resident of Westmoreland County, Reese, who lived with his family in Mount Pleasant. Prior to taking office, he served as chief of staff for Westmoreland County Commissioner Terry Marolt and Phil Light. He was also the Assistant Director of Financial Administration for Westmoreland County.
Some of Reese’s other legislative initiatives include reducing the size of the legislature, privatizing the state’s liquor system, and promoting accountability and transparency in the Public Schools Charter and Cyber Charter.
Reese announced in early December that he would be in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.
“I am grateful that my symptoms are mild and diminishing. I feel better as each day passes,” the statement read.
Reese lived in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Angela, and the couple’s three children.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Mike Reese, 42, of Pennsylvania, dies of brain aneurysm